Payton Off the Ballot

It was reported today by Chris Brennan on philly.com that Tony Payton will not be on the Democratic Primary ballot for State Representative. His campaign did not collect the required 300 valid signatures.

State Rep. Tony Payton withdrew from the April 24 Democratic primary election this evening after a two-day Commonwealth Court hearing made clear that he did not have enough valid signatures on his nominating petitions to remain on the ballot. Payton submitted 1,854 signatures in his bid for a fourth two-year term representing the 179th District but a line-by-line examination of those names, with the help of a hand-writing analyst, resulted in many being disqualified.

With no other candidate on the ballot, James Clay Jr., son of the late Frances Clay, will become the Democratic candidate for State Representative of the 179th district.